Split tube cigarette snuffer



pri 1957 J. F. SMILLIE SPLIT TUBE CIGARETTE SNUFFER Filed Dec. 15, 1952 INVENTOR. JOHN F. SMILLIE K5101 & wrwx AGENTS United States Patetit'O "ice 2,790,446 sPL'IT TUBE CIGARETTE SNUFFER John F. Smilli, San Diego, Calif. Application December is, 1952, Serial No, 326,676 6 Claims. (or. 131-235 The present invention relates generally to a cigarette snuffer and more particularly to a split tube cigarette snufler.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a split tube cigarette snuffer which will quickly extinguish a cigarette placed in the tube, without damaging the cigarette SO that it may be ilightd if desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cigarette snuifer which will extinguish a cigarette without crushing, thus preventing soiling of the fingers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cigarette snnne'r comprising a split ful'ie which may be opnd by direct means to release an extinguished cigarette.

Another object of this invention is to providea split tube cigarette snuffer having an angularly disposed hinge, whereb the lower end portions of said split tube become more widely separated than th u per end portions to provide sure release of the extinguished cigarette.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure and wherein similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing, and in which: 1

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an automobile type ash tray with the split tube cigarette snuifer shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of the ash tray shown in Fig. l, the cigarette being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of the ash tray shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view of the cigarette snufier of the ash tray shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation view of the cigarette snutler.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation view of the cigarette snuffer with the split tube in the open position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the device is shown installed in an automobile type ash tray 10 having a support arm 12 which has an attachment lug portion at the lower end thereof riveted to the ash tray and the arm is provided with a roller 14. The cigarette snuirer includes a bracket 16 secured tov ports for a hinge pin 22. The split tube 24 comprises two generally semi-cylindrical half tubes or sections 26 to which are secured the hinge leaves 28, 'each of said tli clo Ed position.

2,790,446 2 Patented Apr. 30, 1957 pe sh byfimea'ns of a spring 32 whichis arranged co- I'y of the" hinge pin 22, the ends' of said spring en-' gaging the outside surfaces of the hinge leaves 28 so as' to bias the half tubes toward each other.

The split; tube 24' comprises a tapered portion 34, the smallest diameter being at the lower end, while the upper end is provided" with an outwardly flared mouth 36 to ermit flie' 'eas'yin'ser tionor a cigarette stub 38 as illustiere in Fig. 4. 1 w r I The split tube 24 is held in a vertical plane including the ax'i's of the hinge pin 22 by means of a tongue 40,

weiaetf as indicatedat 41 in Figure 1, or otherwise secured to the lower tab 20, said' tongue projecting upwardly Between the hinge leaves 28 and being lateral-1y engageday the same when the" half tubes26 arein 'e may be manually opened by means 42which are secured to the half tubes 26 or edge of the flar'e 'd' mouth 36. The arms 42 overlap and project "outwardly from the split tube 24, each of said arms Having thereon a knob 44. When p the arms 4'2 are pressed together as illustrated in Fig. 6,

the Half tubes 26 will be forced apart so releasing any cigarette stub contained therein. Due to the fact that" the axis of the hingeis angularly disposed with reference to the" axis of the split tube and to the vertical, the half tubes 26 will open further apart at their lower ends tha'inat their upper ends, so providing positive release of cigarette f's'tub's The' opening movement of the half tubes 26 is equalized vby a stop plate 46 welded to, or otherwise seciird'iii fixed relation relative to the bracket 16, said stop plate having arcuate recessed edge 48 V which receives the half tubes 26 in the open position as hinge leaves having a pair of inwardly disposed lugs 30. 7

through which passes the hinge pin 22. It should be noted that the hinge leaves 28 are shaped so that the split-tube 24 is angularly disposed in relation to the hinge pin 22 for reasons which will later be explained. The half tubes or sections 26 are retained in a closed illustrated in Fig. 2.

The split tube His best made of metal so that/the heat of a cigarette stub inserted therein will quickly be dissipated. This rapid dissipation of heat, plus the fact that air currents are precluded, results in the cigarette stub being extinguished. It has been-found in practice that the action is very fast, requiring but a few seconds to extinguish a cigarette, after which time the stub may be dropped into the ash tray by opening the split tube as described above. i

It will be obvious that the cigarette snuifer described herein is not restricted to installation in automobile type ash trays, but maybeused with other ash trays and with a wide variety of snuifer supporting means.

It is understood'that'nu'nor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim: 7

1. A cigarette snuifer comprising a supporting bracket,

a split tube having complementary sections, a hingepivotally attaching said complementary sections tosaid bracket, means for pivotally separating said sections,

the axis of said hinge being angularly disposed relative to the vertical as well as to the axis of said split tube and said axes converging toward a point above said split tube, whereby the lower ends of said complementary sections are more widely separatedthan the upper ends when said means is operated.

2. A cigarette snuffer comprising a supporting bracket, i V

a split tube having complementary sections, a hinge pivotally attaching said complementary sections to said bracket, means for pivotally separatingsaidsections;the axis of said hinge being angularly disposed relative'to the vertical as well as to the axis of;said split tube and said axes converging toward a point abovesaid split tube, V

whereby the lower ends of said complementary sections are more widely separated than the upper ends when said means is operated, and a spring operatively mounted on said hinge and biasing said complementary'sections toward each other.

3. A cigarette snutr'er comprising a supporting bracket, a split tube having complementary sections,- a' hinge pivotally attaching said complementary. sections to said bracket, means for pivotally separating said sections, the

axis of said hinge being angularly disposed relative to' the vertical as well as to the axis of said split tube and said axes converging toward a point abovef saidsplit tube, whereby the lower ends of said complementary sec tions are more widely separated than the upper ends when said means is operated, said hinge'ha'ving a hinge pin 'anldphinge leaves secured individually to said sections, and a spring coiled around said hinge, the ends of said spring engaging said hinge leaves. whereby said' complementary sections'are biased toward 'e'achother, said means for separating including arms secured to said hinge leaves, said arms'overlapping and extending outwardly from said split tube from the side thereof remote from said hinge, said arms having terminals remote from said sections and said terminals comprising manual engagernent members which can be pressed toward each other to cause the sections to separate.

4. A cigarette snuifer comprising a supporting bracket, a split tube having complementary sections, a hinge having a pin pivotally attaching saidi complementary exodus .5.

spring coiled around said hinge pin, the ends of said spring engaging said complementary sections whereby said complementary sections are biased toward each other, said separating means including arms secured to said complementary sections, said complementary sections each comprising a slightly tapered, semi-trusteconical lower portion, an outwardly flared upper portion, and an extended upwardly tapering hinge portion.

sections to said bracket, means for pivotally separating said sections, the axis of said hinge pin being angularly disposed relative to the vertical as well as to the axis of said split tube and said axes converging toward a point above said split tube, whereby the lower ends of said complementary sections are more widely separated than' the upper ends when said means'is operated, a

5. A cigarette snulfer according to claim 4 and including a tongue,'said complementary sections being retained in symmetrical disposition with reference to a vertical plane through said hinge pin and tongue by means of said'tongue, said tongue being fixedly secured to said bracket and disposed between said extended hinge portions.

6. A cigarette snulier according to claim 4 including a stop plate secured to said bracket and engaging said sections in equally extended positions thereof,

' References Cited in the file'ot this patent I V UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,531,700

Great Britain Jan. 17, 1939 

